Session 1
The Law of Magnetism
“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” This quote from Harvey Firestone signifies the importance of developing leaders around us. The law of magnetism states that only strong leaders have what it takes to develop others. There are many leaders equipped with various skills such as proper communication or time management, but few leaders have the skill to build up the people around them to make them better leaders. In other words, a true leader not only learns and grows as an individual, but they also take others to a higher leadership level. Working with others to help them reach their goals is one of the most difficult and essential skills that a leader must learn.
This principle is very relevant to me. As a grade 10, I have taken on the role of a leader in TALONS. Over the past few months, I have constantly sought to improve my leadership ability by practicing various skills such as effective communication and positivity. Sometimes, I have been too focused on trying to improve myself as a leader that I forgot about helping grow the other members in my committee. This is a principle that I will work to follow because I am motivated to help my peers succeed. I will definitely be keeping in mind the growth of others in my group for future leadership projects. To develop the grade 9s as leaders in the future, I will have them complete tasks independently while supporting them if they require help.

Session 2
Leaders have the ability to make things happen.
A crucial difference between those who lead and those who follow is that leaders have the ability to start momentum. There are people in a team who stop the momentum. These people do not move the group forward and can impede the progress of the team. Leaders are capable of doing actions that start momentum. They are called ‘momentum makers’. Leaders who follow this principle never wait for others to get started. They take responsibility and bring the group together. A good leader will always follow through on what they say and will take responsibility for their mistakes. Instead of waiting for opportunities to come, leaders take action and initiate the opportunities.
In my experience in TALONS, I have found myself in situations where I wanted other people in my group to step up and take charge. Instead of starting the momentum myself, I hoped somebody else would get the group started. This is an obstacle that I am going to overcome. I have been working towards being a ‘momentum maker’ this year and I will continue to apply this important principle for all of the upcoming leadership events. When my planning committee is quiet and unsure of what to do next, I will implement this principle to ‘make things happen’. I will address the group, summarizing what has been accomplished so far and discussing the next steps. I will work to get over my nervousness about speaking to a group, keeping in mind that a leader must initiate action.

Session 3
Work on yourself before you work on others.
John C. Maxwell stated, “leaders go first!” This is an important principle to keep in mind as a leader. Leaders should ask give themselves requirements to make sure they are prepared to lead. If a leader has done what they ask others to do, the leader gains credibility. Other team members trust that the leader knows what they are talking about. Next, if a leader is doing what they ask others to do, the leader gains leadership. They are leading the group, guiding them as they accomplish their tasks. If a leader asking others to do a task is willing to do it again, they gain connection. It is not enough to complete a task; a good leader must be willing to do it again to build a connection with the group. If a leader is not willing to accomplish a task again, the team members will be unmotivated and less likely to repeat the task too. Finally, if a leader asking others to do a task can do it well, they gain respect. The team will trust the leader’s judgements, therefore increasing the overall effectiveness of the group. If all of these requirements have been met, the leader creates motivation. A hard-working leader will create an atmosphere that will positively benefit others. Team members will be inspired by their leader’s abilities and will grow from the leader’s guidance.
In my opinion, this is a critically important concept. Throughout my life, I have seen many people try to work on others before themselves. They did not follow the advice and suggestions they give to other people. I have always found those people difficult to follow and trust. While planning future leadership events, I will constantly work hard on my tasks to set an example for my team. When I encourage another team member that is doing a task, I will let them know that I am also willing to do the task myself. Furthermore, I will make sure I know how a task is properly done before I delegate others with that task.

Session 4
Success is the maximum utilization of the abilities of those within your organization.
While personal success is the maximum usage of the abilities you have, the success of a group is determined by every single member and not just the leader. This concept emphasizes the importance of each individual in a group. A leader who can bring success to a group will focus on others in addition to themselves, knowing that that the success of a group requires each member to develop and contribute. A good leader will commit to their team member, focusing on finding ways to challenge and teach them. They bring out the unique strengths in others, allowing the team members to grow as leaders themselves. I believe this is an essential concept that I need to remember. Throughout my leadership experiences in TALONS, I have always sought to use my strengths to contribute to the team. I would oftentimes neglect to realize that for our group to succeed, each team member’s strength needs to be utilized. As I plan leadership events in the future, I will remember that a team’s success cannot come from one individual. I will focus on dividing tasks evenly to ensure everybody has enough work to do. This way, everyone can utilize their potential to the maximum and will experience the challenge needed to develop as a leader.